The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-17


 I stood irresolute; should 1 go? Yes; Uncle Sidney would protect me from-well, from whatever was there. I put my trembling fingers on the door, handle and hesitated. Fudge l'' I said, "this is sheer foolishness." !" Then I heard uncle leaving the library, and I gave up going down stairs to be Laughed at thereafter, thought.
 had just come to this conclusion when heard struggling sound be- low which froze my blood in my veins with terror then a smothered curse, 8 groan of intense agony, fol- lowed by 8 fall, came to my ears through the door ajar, and some one shut the outer door.
 For 8 moment I stood trying to scream, but I could only whisper then new horror seized me, and I rushed down the steps to find dear Uncle Sidney prone on the mating, stabbed to the heart with gleaming poniard, whose polished hilt shone in the feeble rays of the hall lamp.
 shrieked for help and knelt beside my dying relative. At sound of my voice he opened his eyes and moved his lips. put my ear down to catch his whispered words.
 Burglars" he said "save yourself, Ella. Goodbye! am going"
 AS my unearthly shriek rang out through the silent house, the servants were on their feet and rushing into the hall.
 "Murdered p l moaned, and fell senseless across the body of my dead uncle.
 When became conscious again, the sound of strange feet echoed through the house, and all was excitement and confusion. Old Martha, the cook, was bending over me with white face, ap- plying restoratives, and the family physician stood near.
 "Murdered 1" I tried to shriek, at the same time attempting to rise, but could do neither. They forced some medicine through my lips, and I drifted off into the unknown; I had taken an opiate. It was weeks before I could be about the house, and of course my uncle had been long buried.
 On the night of the murder they had found crimson silk handkerchief dashed with blood, at the street en- trance, which doubtless the assassin had dropped. This, together with the pitiless blade drawn from Uncle Sid ney's dead body, they gave mo, after they had been hawked about from one point to another in vain attempt at finding clue to the murderer. took them; and holding them in my left hand, raised my right to heaven with the solemn VOW to un- earth the mystery surrounding the terrible death of my uncle.
 "All my life," said, "should be de- voted to this one end until I should succeed"
 If we but knew, sometimes, when we register such VOWS before high heaven, how short the mortal arm, we would hesitate. But I felt that should keep this oath of duty; yet, had I known how it should be full filled, think l should rather have plunged the blade into my own heart, had it not been for vengeance.
 Vengeance that word saved me.
 For three weary, desolate years I searched, not openly, but covertly, and travelled some, of course, in conse- quence. In all that time, not single suspicious clue had been able to come at. But things may happen in day which may not happen in t century, and so found it.
 It was the stseaside season" at N, and was there; not on my hunt ex- actly, this time had l gone. My health was fast giving way under the tense strain of my days of watching and nights of sleepless calculating so I had been ordered there "for rest" As if could rest while the murderer re- mained unhungl But I went to NJ, nevertheless, at the solicita- sions of friends, and-it is the regret of my life that I ever saw the gay wa tering- place.
 Among the many met there that season was a very handsome young gentleman of wealth and decidedly fine culture. In few days we be- came friends; something of subtle power drew my very soul to him Was it any wonder, then, that in even our short stay at N he had com- pletely won my heart and had my promise to become his wife the follow ing Christmas?
 No, it was not strange, neither wa, it singular that he loved me desper. ately-almost to madness. know people laughed and remarked that al old maids infatuation had captured the handsome Lee Barton; but he die not care for my twenty and eigh1 years, for he always reminded me tha he "was just five years my senior fol all that, and always should be-" H, 1 said too that Mpooala lannhod hoca,aS,